Lyrical Levity Trivia Quiz

Answer: Monster Mash

In 1962 Bobby "Boris" Pickett created this song after getting a great crowd reaction for doing a Boris Karloff impersonation while performing "Little Darlin'" by the Diamonds. "Monster Mash" made it to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in October 1962. (just in time for Halloween) His back-up band was credited as "The Crypt-Kicker Five."

Answer: King Tut

Steve Martin performed this in a live performance during an episode of "Saturday Night Live" in April 1978. His backup band, billed as the "Toot Uncommons" were actually members of the "Nitty Gritty Dirt Band." The song reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Answer: Witch Doctor

Ross Bagdasarian Sr. (as David Seville) released this song in 1958. In addition to singing the main lyrics, he voiced the witch doctor using a sped up recording of his voice, a technique that he used later with his more famous characters, "Alvin and the Chipmunks." The song went all the way to number one on the Billboard Top 100, the predecessor to the Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: The Purple People Eater

Sheb Wooley reached number one in the Billboard pop charts in 1958 with his song The Purple People Eater, more specifically a "one-eyed, one-horned, flying, purple people eater." The lyrics have an ambiguity in that it's never made clear what color the Purple People Eater is. It's just certain that it eats purple people.

Answer: Love Potion No. 9

"Love Potion No. 9" was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1959. Like the earlier "Witch-Doctor" song, this one centers on a man seeking help to find love. In 1964 The Searchers' version of the song reached number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. So far we have two remedies for those of you that have been "a flop with chicks ... since 1956"

Answer: Time Warp

Composer Richard Hartley and Composer lyricist Richard O'Brien are responsible for this parody song from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Though it has been released as a single, it's never gotten quite the success of the earlier singles in this quiz. Though as part of the LP, "Glee: The Music, The Rocky Horror Glee Show," it debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 the week of October 27, 2010, the highest position ever reached for a Rocky Horror album. From there, I'm guessing, "It's just a step to the left..."

Answer: Li'l Red Riding Hood

"Li'l Red Riding Hood" was performed by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs in 1966 and made it to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1966. More recently Amanda Seyfried performed a cover of the song to promote her movie "Red Riding Hood."

Answer: Snoopy vs. the Red Baron

Written by Phil Gernhard and Dick Holler "Snoopy vs. the Red Baron" was recorded in 1966 by The Royal Guardsmen. The song peaked at number two on the Hot 100 during December 1966. The Royal Guardsmen went on to record several other Snoopy-themed songs, "The Return of the Red Baron" and "Snoopy's Christmas" also "Snoopy for President" and in 2006 "Snoopy vs Osama."

Answer: I Like 'Em Big and Stupid

"I Like 'Em Big and Stupid" was the debut single by comedian and singer Julie Brown. The song was self-released by Brown in 1983 and was never a chart topper. It WAS filmed for inclusion in the 1988 film "Earth Girls Are Easy" but ended up on the cutting room floor. (Though it is available in the DVD extras)

Answer: Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh

"Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh" by Allan Sherman and Lou Busch was performed by Allan Sherman. The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and even inspired a board game "Camp Granada," and a short-lived (1965-66) TV sitcom, "Camp Runamuck." Coincidently the Leonard Skinner mentioned in the song is NO relation to the Jacksonville Florida gym teacher from which the group "Lynyrd Skynyrd" drew its name. Perhaps if he'd not gotten ptomaine poising after dinner...